Designated Activities No.46 and Job-Hunting After Graduation

Two of the most useful Designated Activities routes exist for the period around graduation: the Designated Activities No.46 for graduates of Japanese universities and certain other qualifying Japanese higher-education routes who can use high-level Japanese in a wide range of work, and the job-hunting activity for eligible graduates who have not yet found a job. Together they give Japanese-educated graduates real flexibility that the conventional work visa does not.

This guide explains what No.46 allows and its requirements, how it differs from the ordinary work visa, the family status that goes with it, the continued job-hunting activity, and the newer J-Find route for graduates of top-ranked universities. For the wider Designated Activities status, see our Designated Activities overview.

What Designated Activities No.46 Is

Designated Activities No.46 was created for eligible graduates within the official 本邦大学等卒業者 scope who have strong Japanese ability and want to work across a broader range of jobs than the conventional work visa allows. Its defining feature is that it permits work requiring smooth communication in Japanese—which can include hands-on, front-line roles, as long as the work draws on the learning outcomes and abilities gained through the qualifying Japanese higher-education route and uses the person's Japanese language ability.

In other words, an eligible person on No.46 can take roles—in retail, food service, hospitality, manufacturing coordination, and the like—that combine customer or workplace communication in Japanese with the learning outcomes and applied abilities gained through the qualifying Japanese higher-education route. That is wider than Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, although work that is only simple labour or only routine service work is still not enough.

No.46 Requirements

To qualify for No.46 you generally must satisfy all of the following:

• Education: you fall within the official 本邦大学等卒業者 scope—a Japanese university degree or graduate course completion; the 2024 revision also covers defined university-equivalent routes, including certain junior colleges, colleges of technology, professional university junior divisions, or recognised specialised training colleges where the required qualification (typically a bachelor's degree or advanced diploma) is obtained.
• Japanese ability: high-level Japanese, generally shown by JLPT N1 or BJT (Business Japanese Test) 480 or above; those who majored in Japanese at a university or graduate school may meet the Japanese-language standard through defined academic documentation in some cases.
• Use of your knowledge: the work must make use of the broad knowledge and applied abilities you gained at the Japanese university or graduate school.
• Pay: you must be paid at least the same as a Japanese national doing equivalent work, as a full-time employee (not dispatch in a way that breaks this).

The combination of qualifying Japanese higher education and a high Japanese-language standard is the heart of No.46—it is designed to reward graduates who have genuinely integrated into Japanese-language education and working life.

No.46 vs the Conventional Work Visa

No.46 may be the better route for an eligible 本邦大学等卒業者 with strong Japanese who wants a role—such as a store manager trainee, hotel front-of-house, or a coordinating role on a production floor—where the duties include front-line Japanese communication and may be difficult to fit under the conventional work visa if they are mainly on-site or service-facing.

Bringing Family: No.47

The dependent spouse and dependent children of a No.46 holder can be granted Designated Activities No.47, which lets the family live in Japan together. As with a Dependent visa, family members on No.47 may work only within limits and after obtaining permission to engage in activity other than that permitted. The relationship documents are broadly similar to other family applications—marriage and birth certificates, and proof the holder can support the family.

The Job-Hunting Designated Activity

Separately from No.46, an eligible graduate who has not yet found a job by the time their Student status ends does not necessarily have to leave Japan immediately. Eligible routes typically include graduates of Japanese universities and specialised training college professional courses; there are also limited routes for certain graduates of overseas universities or Japanese-language institutions. With a recommendation from the relevant school and evidence of genuine, ongoing job-hunting, they can change to a Designated Activities status to continue job-hunting.

J-Find: Job-Hunting for Top-University Graduates

The J-Find route (Designated Activities for future creation individuals) is a more generous option for people aged 18 or older who graduated from or completed a graduate course at an eligible overseas university, were awarded a bachelor's or professional degree within the last five years, and wish to seek employment or prepare a business start-up in Japan for a period of up to two years. Importantly, it does not require prior study in Japan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary

For a graduate educated in Japan, these Designated Activities routes are among the most valuable doors open to you. If you have strong Japanese and a Japanese degree, No.46 lets you work far more broadly than the conventional visa; if you are still searching at graduation, the job-hunting activity buys you time; and if you graduated from a top-ranked university anywhere, J-Find offers a generous runway. Identify the route that fits, and prepare its specific evidence early.